Disciplinary Knowledge and Data Needed for Water Efficiency in Green Buildings

Abstract

Water shortage has become one of the most serious issues in many countries of the world. It is crucial to implement initiatives to create awareness in the management and use of the potable water as well as to meet the water efficiency in green buildings.

The US green building guidelines LEED provide parameters or indicators relevant to the water performance in terms of quality and quantity. Architects and engineers of different disciplines require knowledge and data to successfully design and build sustainable buildings.

This research investigated knowledge disciplines and data needed in a project related to WE (water efficiency). It presented analyses comparing WE of green building projects, types and purposes of rainwater harvesting system, three discipline breakdown structures related to EA credits, and the academic courses related to EA.

Finally, the disciplines and data WE are explained by two case studies located in Taiwan (manufacturing Plant & Cheng Kung Campus). The case studies about WE illustrated how to reduce the potable water consumption through the use of environmental-friendly strategies. This research process and results can help practitioners to gain a clear picture about how to design and implement a WE system for building projects.